The Strand Magazine, Vol. 1 - No. 1,

e old Countess. He felt no remorse, though he could not deny to himself that he was the poor woman's assassin. Having no religion, he was, as usual in such cases,

her breast, with a dress of white satin, and head-dress of lace. Around the catafalque the family was assembled, the servants in black caftans with a knot of ribbons on the shoulder, exhibiting the col

the just, who had passed long years of contrite preparation for a Christian end. The service concluded in the midst of respectful silence. Then the relations went towards the defunct to take a last farewell. After them, in a long procession, all who had been invited to the ceremony bowed, for the last time, to her who

h, and walked up the steps of the catafalque. He bowed his head. But suddenly the dead woman seemed to be staring at him; and with a mocking look she opened and shut

ls, he, contrary to his habit, drank a great deal of wine, with the object of stupefying himself. But the wine

RTED AND FEL

. He could sleep no more. He sat up on the bed and thought of the old Countess. At this moment someone in the street passed the window, looked into the room, and then went on. Hermann scarcely noticed it; but in another minute he heard th

red the bedroom. Hermann thought it must be his old nurse, an

ith a rapid step, was now at the foot of hi

, SEVE

f played one after the other; but you must not play more than one card in twenty-four hours, and afterwards as long as you l

isappeared. Hermann heard the door of the ante-chamber open, and soon afterwards saw a white

derly, drunk as usual, was asleep on the floor. He had much difficulty in waking him, and th

edroom, and wrote down all